Florets. Fertile florets 2–14. Lemmas similar in texture to glumes to decidedly firmer than glumes, not becoming indurated, entire at apex or incised, when entire pointed or blunt, muticous or mucronate or awned, 3–7 nerved, hairy (rarely) or glabrous. Awns when present, 1, from a sinus or apical, non-geniculate, much shorter than body of lemma (usually) or about as long as body of lemma (sometimes, rarely somewhat longer). Palea relatively long, tightly clasped by lemma, apically notched, textured like lemma, 2 nerved. Distal incomplete florets underdeveloped. Lodicules 2. Stamens 3. Grain small or medium sized or large, fusiform or ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, compressed dorsiventrally, with hairs confined to a terminal tuft. Hilum long-linear (usually about as long as the grain, but sometimes elliptical and only half as long). Embryo small.